Continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system

ABSTRACT

A continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system in which ore or other solids in transportable sizes are introduced through a free water surface into a confined cyclic flow of a transport fluid at a controlled rate by directing pneumatic pressure against the liquid interface at one or more lower points of introduction, each maintained in balanced relation to pressures within an associated surge bin and interconnected pressurized chamber. The confined flow has a critical velocity greater than the settling velocity of particles in the flow and may be hoisted and otherwise moved to desired locations including an upper outlet.

United States Patent 2,793,082 5/1957 Gardner, Jr.

inventor Water R. Allen P.O. Box 311, Durand, Mich. 48429 Appl. No. 862,178 Filed Sept. 30, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 CONTINUOUS HYDRAULIC ORE HOISIING SYSTEM 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl .L 302/14, 302/55 Int. Cl. 865g 53/30 Field of Search 302/ 14, 15, 16, 55

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Andres H. Nielsen Attorney-McGrew and Edwards ABSTRACT: A continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system in which ore or other solids in transportable sizes are introduced through a free water surface into a confined cyclic flow of a transport fluid at a controlled rate by directing pneumatic pressure against the liquid interface at one or more lower points of introduction, each maintained in balanced relation to pressures within an associated surge bin and interconnected pressurized chamber. The confined flow has a critical velocity greater than the settling velocity of particles in the flow and may be hoisted and otherwise moved to desired locations including an upper outlet.

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INVIEN'IOR. Wa/fer R. Allen A TTORNE Y5 CONTINUOUS HYDRAULIC ORE IIQISTING SYSTEM This invention relates to a system and apparatus for hydraulic hoisting of ore. Earlier developments of such a system have been tried commercially but so many problems havebeen encountered with only limited beneficial results that there is no general industrial acceptance of such a method at the present time. A representative priorart ore hoisting system is shown and described in Gardner, Jr. U.S.* Pat. No. 2,793,082 May 21, 1957, and the present invention includes improvements in said patented system.

One of the difficulties of the prior art procedures was the utilization of batchfeeding causing widespread variations in the liquid to solids proportioning of the conveyed fluid. As a consequence, comparatively large volume surface installations were required to handle the solids removal an liquid return in the surface installations. In addition, a considerable amount of liquid hoisting is'employed insuch a system when no solids are being hoisted.

The present invention represents a substantial departure from prior art practices and provides a number of innovations which lead to the efficiency of the operation. The ore is fed continuously and the entire cyclic operation is continuous derground mining operation.v The surface elevation is indicated by the letter S and the letter A indicates the underground mining area. The hydraulic hoisting system includes a continuous conduit assembly 12 including a return or downward stretch 12a anda'delivery or upward stretch 12b with flow inducing means 121:v shown as a surface installation for returning aclear liquid flow to'downstretch 12a which becomes transportfluid when ore is loaded into the upstretch 12b by procedures which will be described subsequently. In general, the surface installations comprise a receptacle (not shown) into which the hoisted ore and transport fluid are discharged through an outlet l2z in stretch 12b, a separating with the rate of ore introduction controlled in relation to the quantity of transport fluid with which it mixes in the hoisting action so that a substantially uniform solids to liquid mixture is being circulated at all times; This eliminates the need for the large quantities of dewatering equipment and thickeners which are required when such a batch system'is used in the mining operation.

Another innovation of the present treatmentis the utilization of pneumatic pressurizing controls and associated valving which establish balanced pressures in the ore input or charging stage permitting utilization of a free water surface for passage into the circulating transport fluid which admits the entering feed in a gravity flow.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple, economical and efficient system for continuously introducing ore through an inlet into a confined transporting fluid at a con-' trolled rate and circulating said fluid from the inlet to an upper point of discharge of its solids content with recycling of the separated fluid through the confined zone and past the inlet in the next cycle movement, which operation may be readily automated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a controlled feed introduction into an ascending liquid column of a continuous hoisting operation at a rate establishing a predetermined liquid to solids ratio which is maintained substantially uniform over long periods of continuous operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic ore hoisting system which may utilize multiple points of ore introduction, thus permitting simultaneous hoisting of the mined ore from several levels of a mining operation.

Other objects reside in novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be set forth in detail in the following description. The practice of my invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating representative installations for hoisting ore from underground supply sourcesto a surface removal area. In the drawings, in the several views of which like parts bear similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a more or less schematic end elevation of an installation having a single feed inlet and a surface removal area, the details of which are shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is another front elevation view showing an arrangement for multiple introduction of ore feed at different levels in a mining operation;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the valve utilized in the control of the ore input circuit utilized in the practice of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows another arrangement in side elevation for introducing solids through a pressurized gas-liquid interface into a transporting fluid flowing inside a hoisting conduit.

As shown in FIG. I, one embodiment of my novel ore hoiststage (not shown), a clarification state (not shown) which may be provided if the separation stage does not provide a clear water source for retum'and flow inducing means 121:, here shown as a centrifugal pump, but which may be a positive displacement pump if desired.

The'underground working area A is of substantial vertical extent and has been shown out of scale relation with the conduits 12a and 12b in order to show details of construction clearly. A special type of inlet 13 is shown adjacent the lower end of hoisting stretch 12b and comprises a conical receptacle having a bottom passage entering a suitable opening in hoisting stretch 12b while its upper end 13b is open and has a free water surface maintained under a pressure balancing the hydrostaticpressure at opening 134 so that the gravity feedcan be delivered through feed inlet 13 into hoisting stretch 12b. In order to maintain the desired pressures, an excavated area l4-is formed as a pressurized chamber adjoining inlet 13 and is a completely sealed chamber in which a line 15 con trolled by a valve 154 is arranged to deliver a pneumatic flow at a pressure required to balance the aforesaid hydrostatic pressure.

A surge bin 16 is located above an ore feeder 17 in pressurized chamber 14 and has a spout portion 16: delivering ore feed by gravity onto the feeder 17 which is operated at a controlled rate to maintain a predetermined liquid to solids ratio in the material being elevated through hoisting stretch 12b.

Another pneumatic line 18 controlled by valves 18a and 18b is provided to establish a pressure in surge bin 16 which balances the pressure in chamber 14. 'Ore feed is'supplied to' 22 under control of valves 22a and 22b establishes a desired 1 pressure within intermediate chamber 19 and lines l5, l8 and 22 are interconnected so that balancing pressures can be established in intermediate chamber 19, surge bin 16 and pressurized chamber 14 through suitable valve operation. In preferred practice, automatic controls will be provided for the valves.

The operation of the system just described involves delivery of feed ore onto a continuous feeder 23 which discharges by gravity into receiving chamber 20. Mined ore is delivered onto feeder 23 in a volume sufficient to maintain the desired storage quantity in surge bin 16 so that there is at all times an ample supply of feed for the continuous feeder 17 supplying inlet 13. At the beginning of the operation, valve 21 regulating feed between receiving chamber 20 and intermediate chamber 19 is closed as is the valve 24 between intermediate chamber 19 and surge bin 16. The receiving chamber 20 acts as a measuring hopper and ore is fed thereto until the desired quantity has been delivered. At that time, valve 21 is opened to allow ore to pass into intermediate chamber 19 whichis intermittently pressurized with air by closing valve 21 and per-' After the air pressures in chambers 14 and 29 and surge bin 16 are equalized, valve 24 is opened, permitting the charge from intermediate chamber 19 to pass by gravity into surge bin 16. After this transfer of material has been accomplished and a desired quantity is held as storage in surge bin 16, valve 24 is again closed. Thereafter, material from surge bin 16 is drawn out of the bin by means of the operation of feeder 17, here shown as a belt conveyor, whose speed may be varied to control the rate at which the feed material is drawn off. Feeder l7 discharges material in the feed inlet 13 where it passes through the interface of free water or fluid surface and thence through the bottom opening 13a into the transport fluid flowing in conduit 12b. The transport fluid flowing in conduit 12b must be flowing above some critical velocity which is greater than the settling velocity of the particles being hoisted in that stretch of the conduit system. At such carrying velocity, the solids can be hoisted and transported to the desired point of discharge at the surface installation, here represented as the outlet 12z. If the surface installation requires size reduction of the hoisted ore, the discharge 121 may be pumped directly to a crusher circuit. The centrifugal pump 12;: is shown in the FIG. 1 circuit as the means of providing the critical flow velocity. As previously indicated, this flow inducing means may be a positive displacement pump when preferred.

After the initial ore charge and storage through an intermediate chamber 19 into surge bin 16, intermediate chamber 19 may be prepared to receive another measured quantity of material by depressurizing said chamber through line 22 by opening of air bleeder valve 22a and charging surge bin 16 as previously described. Also, if the quantity of ore constituting the feed requires greater capacity, more than one intermediate chamber may be provided.

FIG. 2 shows my novel ore hoisting system applied to a mining operation having ore supply at different levels with multiple feed input into the hoisting stretch of the cyclic conduit means. As shown in FIG. 2, there is a surface circuiting installation shown as mounted on surface S and underground feed supply areas A, A and A". The cyclic conduit system 12 is again shown as comprising a return or downward stretch 12a and an upward or hoisting stretch 12b, the latter having the conical feed inlet previously described. All of the installation in area A of FIG. 2 is exactly the same as shown an described with reference to FIG. 1 except for its facing position and consequently the same parts numbering has been employed. Also, with respect to the feeding area A, the arrangement again is a duplication of the FIG. 1 arrangement and operation with the exception that the main feed supply conveyor 23b of FIG. 2 is inclined rather than horizontal as shown in FIG. 1. Because of this, the same parts numbering has been applied in area A.

Area A of FIG. 2 represents a generalized view of the system showing how the feed supply might be delivered from a large diameter boring operation to remove cuttings behind the cutter head. This variation has been shown in more detail in FIG. 4 and the numbering arrangement of FIG. 4 has been applied to this portion of FIG. 2.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 and at the uppermost operating level of FIG. 2 illustrates a means by which the solids introduction through a pressurized gas-liquid interface into a transporting fluid flowing in a conduit may be used to conduct the product of a continuous mining machine operation into such a conduit. The structural details are shown in larger scale and the following description relates particularly to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4. A conventional large diameter drilling machine 33 is shown discharging drill cuttings into a feed cone 34, thence through the outlet passage or opening 35 of the cone into a hoisting or transporting stretch 32b of a line having an associated input line portion 32a.

Feed cone 34 has a free liquid surface 37 maintained at a substantially uniform level by the pressurizing of the chamber 38 in which it is located, such pressurizing being under the selective input of air lines 39, 40 and 41 discharging air into chambers 38, 42 and 43 formed by one or more movable bulkheads 44, 45 and 46. The necessary sealing action between the aforesaid chambers is provided by inflatable sealing tubes, to

roids or tores 47, 48 and 49 in annular arrangement. Said be pressurized independently through flexible air lines 39, 40

and 41 when said sealing tubes 47-, 48 and 49 are inflated by separate flexible air or gas lines 50, 51 and 52. The relatively smooth wall of the tunnel bore 31 produced by drilling machine 33 functions as a cylindrical valve seat against which 7 the sealing tubes 47, 48 and 49 are forced to effectively isolate and maintain chambers 38, 42 and 43.

Advance of said bulkheads is accomplished by means of one or more double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 53 attached to the wider center bulkhead 45. Bulkheads 44 and 46 are attached to the respective ends of a double extended piston rod 54 and thus move simultaneously. They are advanced by deflating sealing tubes 47 and 49 and inflating sealing tube 48 of bulkhead 45. Air or hydraulic pressure is applied to the back or right side of a piston 55 in cylinder 53 causing piston 55, piston rod 54 and bulkheads 44 and 46 to move forward. Similarly, sealing tubes 47 and 49 are inflated, sealing tube 48 is deflated and pressure is applied to the front or left side of piston 55 to advance bulkhead 43.

It will be understood that portions of conduits 32a and 32b and air lines 39, 40, 41, 50, 51 and 52 between bulkheads are made of rubber hose or similar flexible material to permit bending and flexing of such lines and conduits when the bulkheads are being advanced. The entire length of conduits 32a and 32b may be made of rubber hose or rubber or plastic tubing, if desired. The hose may be reinforced with braided wire on the outside to withstand the contained high pressures and to prevent sudden rupturing of lines as when hose walls become thin through wear. The feeding and hoisting system as depicted in FIG. 4 and described hereinabove may be modified to operate in conjunction with a shaft sinking operation and the feed cone 34 may accept a crusher product as the feed or other materials of similar character.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view partially in section showing a valve operation such as performed by the valves 21 and 24 of FIG. 1. Such valves are pneumatically or hydraulically operated and FIG. 3 shows the lower valve in closed position in which the valve actuating piston 71 is in a dead end position. Valve 21 includes a cylindrical body portion 62 with I upper and lower flanges for bolting to chambers. The inside bore of valve body 21 forms the cylindrical valve seat 62 and a cylindrical piston 63 fits inside valve seat 62 with close clearance. In the closed position shown, the valve seal is made by inflating one or more circular tubes or tores 64 which are set in circumferential grooves cut in the piston 63. Inflation pressure for the annular tube seal 64 is provided through a central passage 65 inside piston rod 66 which connects to a radial hole 67 drilled perpendicular to the axis of piston rod 66 and open to the bottom of a circumferential groove 68 cut in piston rod 66 from which it passes into radial holes 69 drilled in the piston 63 and thence passes to a threaded stem 70 fixed to the inflatable tube 64, which stem has threads engaging mating threads cut into a counterbore at the end of radial hole 69.

When the valve actuating piston 71 is in the top dead end position shown inside of double acting valve actuating cylinder 24x, air or hydrostatic pressure in excess of the amount required to accommodate piston 71 is applied to the circular tube seal 64, inflating tube 64, thus making a tight seal against the cylindrical valve seat 62. Piston 63 has a wear plate 73 fixedly secured at its top to protect the piston and deflect material which might cause injury to the piston. The valve actuating cylinder 72 is supported in the center of chamber 19 by means of a web section 74 attached to the wall of chamber 19.

I claim:

1. A continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system, comprising cyclic conduit means for transporting solids in liquids having an upper outlet and at least one lower point of solids introduction, means for inducing a continuous hydraulic flow through the conduit system including the lower point of solids introduction, means defining a pressure-sealed zone through which ore is directed, said means associated with said lower point of solids introduction, pneumatic means for pressurizing said sealed zone into which entering ore is first introduced, means for equalizing the air pressure throughout said sealed zone so as to maintain a free water surface in an associated feed inlet of the zone, a submerged passage for delivery of entering feed from the feed inlet through said lower point of feed introduction, and means for continuously introducing ore through the free water surface of the inlet.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the feed inlet is conical and the free water surface is at the wider end of the inlet.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the rate of feed introduction through the inlet is in predetermined proportion to the rate of liquid flow in the cyclic conduit means.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the ratio of liquid to solids between the inlet and outlet remains substantially uniform in continuous operation.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the velocity of the flow in the cyclic conduit means exceeds the settling rate of the particles of feed introduced through the inlet.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, having a plurality of points of solids introduction at different elevations below the upper outlet.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, having a plurality of points of solids introduction at different locations below the upper outlet.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the outlet is at the surface, and the solids of the hoisted fluid are separated from the carrier liquid which is recycled as the hydraulic flow through the conduit system.

9. A system as defined in claim 8, in which pumping means at the surface induces the continuous hydraulic flow through the conduit system.

10. A continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system, comprising cyclic conduit means for transporting solids in liquids having an upper outlet and at least one lower point of solids introduction, means for inducing a continuous hydraulic flow through the conduit system including the lower point of solids introduction, means including a surge bin and an interconnected pressurized chamber associated with said lower point of solids introduction, pneumatic means for intermittently pressurizing a receiving chamber into which entering ore is first introduced, means for equalizing the air pressure in said receiving chamber with the air pressure in said surge bin and pressurized chamber so as to maintain a free water surface in an associated feed inlet, conduit means for delivery of entering feed from the feed inlet through said lower point of feed introduction, and means for continuously flowing ore through the pressurized chamber and free water surface of the inlet.

11. A system as defined in claim 10, in which the receiving chamber, the surge bin and the interconnected pressurized chamber have interconnected, valve-controlled pneumatic supply lines.

12. ln a continuous ore hoisting system, a receiving chamber, an intermediate pressurized chamber, a pressurized surge bin and a pressurized chamber through which ore feed is passed continuously at an underground loading station, an ascending stretch of a liquid circulating conduit extending into and through the pressurized chamber and having an inlet inclusive of a free water surface through which the ore feed is directed into said ascending stretch, first valve means between the intermediate chamber and the surge bin for selective passage of ore feed and sealing the passage in pressure-confining relation, means for moving said first valve means in and out of its pressure-sealing position in said passage, and second valve means similar to said first valve means disposed between the intermediate chamber and the receiving chamber whereby said second valve means are opened and said first valve means closed when the intermediate chamber is being filled, said second and first valve means are closed when the intermediate chamber is being pressurized, and said second valve means are closed and said first valve means opened when the intermediate chamber delivers an ore charge into the surge bin. 13. A continuous hydraulic hoisting system, comprising: conduit means for conducting the flow of a liquid-solid mixture, said conduit means having an inlet through which solids may be introduced into a liquid flowing in said conduit means and having an outlet where a liquid solid mixture may be discharged, said conduit means being disposed with said outlet above said inlet so that solids introduced into a liquid flowing in said conduit means are transported by the flowing liquid from a lower point of introduction to an upper discharge point; means for inducing a continuous flow of liquid through said conduit means in a flow upward from said inlet to said outlet; structure defining a pressure-sealed zone around said inlet of said conduit means; an upward opening gravity feed means communicating with said inlet of said conduit means for conducting solids introduced into said gravity feed means to said inlet; means for pressurizing said sealed zone around said inlet of said conduit means so that a free liquid surface may be maintained in said gravity feed means through which solids may be introduced; and means for continuously delivering solids under a pressure equal to the pressure of said sealed zone to the free liquid surface of said gravity feed means. 

1. A continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system, comprising cyclic conduit means for transporting solids in liquids having an upper outlet and at least one lower point of solids introduction, means for inducing a continuous hydraulic flow through the conduit system including the lower point of solids introduction, means defining a pressure-sealed zone through which ore is directed, said means associated with said lower point of solids introduction, pneumatic means for pressurizing said sealed zone into which entering ore is first introduced, means for equalizing the air pressure throughout said sealed zone so as to maintain a free water surface in an associated feed inlet of the zone, a submerged passage for delivery of entering feed from the feed inlet through said lower point of feed introduction, and means for continuously introducing ore through the free water surface of the inlet.
 2. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the feed inlet is conical and the free water surface is at the wider end of the inlet.
 3. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the rate of feed introduction through the inlet is in predetermined proportion to the rate of liquid flow in the cyclic conduit means.
 4. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the ratio of liquid to solids between the inlet and outlet remains substantially uniform in continuous operation.
 5. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the velocity of the flow in the cyclic conduit means exceeds the settling rate of the particles of feed introduced through the inlet.
 6. A system as defined in claim 1, having a plurality of points of solids introduction at different elevations below the upper outlet.
 7. A system as defined in claim 1, having a plurality of points of solids introduction at different locations below the upper outlet.
 8. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the outlet is at the surface, and the solids of the hoisted fluid are separated from the carrier liquid which is recycled as the hydraulic flow through the conduit system.
 9. A system as defined in claim 8, in which pumping means at the surface induces the continuous hydraulic flow through the conduit system.
 10. A continuous hydraulic ore hoisting system, comprising cyclic conduit means for transporting solids in liquids having an upper outlet and at least one lower point of solids introduction, means for inducing a continuous hydraulic flow through the conduit system including the lower point of solids introduction, means including a surge bin and an interconnected pressurized chamber associated with said lower point of solids introduction, pneumatic means for intermittently pressurizing a receiving chamber into which entering ore is first introduced, means for equalizing the air pressure in said receiving chamber with the air pressure in said surge bin and pressurized chamber so as to maintain a free water surface in an associated feed inlet, conduit means for delivery of entering feed from the feed inlet through said lower point of feed introduction, and means for continuously flowing ore through the pressurized chamber and free water surface of the inlet.
 11. A system as defined in claim 10, in which the receiving chamber, the surge bin and the interconnected pressurized chamber have interconnected, valve-controlled pneumatic supply lines.
 12. In a continuous ore hoisting system, a receiving chamber, an intermediate pressurized chamber, a pressurized surge bin and a pressurized chamber through which ore feed is passed continuously at an underground loading station, an ascending stretch of a liquid circulating conduit extending into and through the pressurized chamber and having an inlet inclusive of a free water surface through which the ore feed is directed into said ascending stretch, first valve means between the intermediate chamber and the surge bin for selective passage of ore feed and sealing the passage in pressure-confining relation, means for moving said first valve means in and out of its pressure-sealing position in said passage, and second valve means similar to said first valve means disposed between the intermediate chamber and the receiving chamber whereby said second valve means are opened and said first valve means closed when the intermediate chamber is being filled, said second and first valve means are closed when the intermediate chamber is being pressurized, and said second valve means are closed and said first valve means opened when the intermediate chamber delivers an ore charge into the surge bin.
 13. A continuous hydraulic hoisting system, comprising: conduit means for conducting the flow of a liquid-solid mixture, said conduit means having an inlet through which solids may be introduced into a liquid flowing in said conduit means and having an outlet where a liquid solid mixture may be discharged, said conduit means being disposed with said outlet above said inlet so that solids introduced into a liquid flowing in said conduit means are transported by the flowing liquid from a lower point of introduction to an upper discharge point; means for inducing a continuous flow of liquid through said conduit means in a flow upward from said inlet to said outlet; structure defining a pressure-sealed zone around said inlet of said conduit means; an upward opening gravity feed means communicating with said inlet of said conduit means for conducting solids introduced into said gravity feed means to said inlet; means for pressurizing said sealed zone around said inlet of said conduit means so that a free liquid surface may be maintained in said gravity feed means through which solids may be inTroduced; and means for continuously delivering solids under a pressure equal to the pressure of said sealed zone to the free liquid surface of said gravity feed means. 